In their first tune-up sport for the Paris Olympics, the United States males’s basketball group took care of enterprise with an 86-72 win over Canada on Wednesday evening in Las Vegas.
Former President Obama was within the constructing together with many different NBA coaches and high-ranking USA basketball officers for the governing physique’s fiftieth anniversary celebration.
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis led Team USA in scoring, whereas first-time Olympian Steph Curry dropped 12 factors and shot 3-of-6 from the 3-point line.
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“We simply need to win gold, no matter that takes,” Curry mentioned in a postgame interview. “We at all times speak about – It don’t matter what your stats are, it don’t matter what number of minutes you play, so long as all people on the ground commits to doing what you’re requested to do, we’ll be good.”
This was the primary of 5 exhibition video games Team USA will play earlier than the Olympic Games start on July 26.
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LeBron James, #6, performs protection throughout the sport in opposition to Canada within the first of 5 exhibition video games forward of the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Images)
Things began out gradual for Team USA. They discovered themselves with an early 10-point deficit within the first quarter as they struggled to seek out rhythm after solely having 4 days collectively earlier than the sport.
Propelled by a 14-2 run within the second quarter, the U.S. took a 41-33 lead into halftime and by no means appeared again.
“Good first sport for us, actually getting began after 4 days of observe,” head coach Steve Kerr mentioned, via USA Basketball. “You might see the rust from the offensive finish, a whole lot of turnovers in that first half particularly, however I really like the defensive depth and the work on the glass. So, it was a superb first effort.”
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Canada’s Andrew Nembhard, heart, performs protection throughout an exhibition sport in opposition to Team USA on July 10, 2024. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE through Getty Images)
This Canada group is the primary ever non-U.S. Olympic group to function 10 energetic NBA gamers on its roster. RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors led Canada in scoring with 12 factors, whereas Dillon Brooks and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander every contributed 10 factors.
Wednesday’s sport would be the solely exhibition sport Team USA performs on home soil. Their subsequent sport is in Abu Dhabi, the place they are going to tackle Australia subsequent week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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